President to inaugurate second phase of OCH

Irangika RANGE

Construction of the second phase of the Colombo Outer Circular Highway (OCH) from Kaduwela to Kadawatha will be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Kadawatha town at 4p.m.today.

The 29.1 kilometre road project constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 90 billion will be built in three phases, Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala said.

The OCH will begin from the Southern Expressway at Kottawa and end at Kerawalapitiya passing through Homagama, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Mahara, and Wattala Divisional Secretariats.

This is connected to the Colombo-Kandy expressway at Kadawatha while connecting the Colombo-Katunayake expressway at Kerawalapitiya. The Ministry has estimated the second phase of this project from Kaduwela to Kadawatha (8.9km) to cost around Rs.44.88 billion.

The highway is expected to provide a circular beltway to bypass the city of Colombo and reduce traffic congestion.